Pumping apparatus



Jan. 20, 1953 FIR. FORREST 2,626,086

PUMPING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1950 ammo/1 Patented Jan. 20, 1953 PUMPING APPARATUS Frank 'R. Forrest, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application June 14, 1950, Serial No. 167,973

Claims.

The present invention relates toimprovements in pumping devices and in particular to pumping devices of the vertical type for pumping various materials from tanks, sumps or the like.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a vertical pumping unit for pumping a variety of materials such as paper stock or various liquids from a relatively deep tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adapting the pumping apparatus to operate Within and to withstand a wide range of temperatures, due to outside weather conditions and the temperature of the material to be pumped, without causing damage thereto because of expansion and contraction of component parts.

At intervals the pumping unit must be removed from the tank for inspection and repairs and when returned to the tank it must be to its original position because of the matter of alignment with the shaft driving means. Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide means for returning the unit to its original setting in the tank without necessitating emptying of the material from the tank.

The novel features of the invention and how the objects are attained will appear more fully from this specification and the accompanying drawing showing one embodiment of the invention and forming a part of this application, and all these novel features are intended to be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a pumping device of the vertical type embodying the novel features of the invention;

and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. l.

' Referring now in detail to the drawing there is illustrated a tank I which may receive any material having characteristics which permit it to be discharged therefrom by pumping. Disposed in tank I is a vertical pump assembly comprising generally pump 2, driving means for the pump herein characterized by motor 3, and a shaft or series of shafts 4 connected in driving relation between the motor and pump. Motor 3 is mounted on a support assembly 5 which has a plate 6 as a part thereof secured to an upper portion of tank I with anchor bolts 1. Pump 2 com-- prises a casing l2 having in this instance an upwardly facing inlet l3, an impeller l4 disposed in said casing and connected in driving relation with shaft 4, a wear plate I5 disposed in said casing on the inlet side of said impeller, a cover plate I6 having a water lubricated bearing [1 installed therein beneath said impeller for laterally supporting shaft 4, and a bearing plate 2| attached to said casing which rests on a submerged surface portion 22 of'tank I. A discharge pipe 23 is connected to casing 2 for conveying material pumped to some designated point.

Bearing plate 2| is forced against submerged surface portion 22 and is held in. such downward position by one or more compression pipes 24 compressively disposed between plate 6 and a plate 25 which is secured to pump casing l2. It is to be noted here that bearing I! does not axially support shaft 4 and impeller I4 in that the shaft depends from a motor bearing (not shown) of ample size tosupport the shaft and to take the hydraulic thrust of the impeller. A detachable coupling 26 connects motor shaft 21 with shaft 4.

To insure stable operation shaft 4 is laterally supported by one or more bearings 3|, each of which is mounted in a bearing yoke 32. Yoke 32 has .a plate portion 33 which connects with and is supportedby compression pipes 26. Bearing 3! is lubricated by water supplied to it under pressure through conduit 34 or in any other suitable manner.

A feature of the present invention is broadly to provide a resilient connection between pump 2 and plate 6 to allow for expansion and contraction of parts therebetween. This feature is directed toward adaptation of the pump assembly to operate in a wide range of temperatures due to outside weather conditions and variousjtemperatures of the material to. be pumped. Asa tank of this nature may be relatively deep, 50 feed for example, it is seen that parts of the pump assembly will be subject to relatively extreme changes in length duetochanges in temperature within the above mentioned range.

A resilient connection between pump 2 and plate 5 is shown herein, by way of example only, as consisting of recesses 35 in upper portions of pipes 24, so formed as to receive compression springs 36. Compression of springs 36 is regulated by adjusting bolts 31 which are threadedly engaged with plate 6 and bear on plates 4| which are disposed between said bolts and said springs, respectively. Such compression of springs 36 acting through pipes 24 forces pump 2 firmly against submerged surface 22 of tank I.

Assume, for example, that pipes 24 have a length in the order of 50 feet and a temperature increase of F. occurs. It can be seen that the resulting expansion of such pipes tends tocause buckling thereof if the pipe is rigidly restrained at each end. Such buckling or even bending of pipes 24 is undesirable in that bearing yoke 32 is forced into misalignment with shaft 4 causing scoring of the shaft and damage to bearing 3 I.

Before the pumping assembly is put into operation the axial position of impeller I4 is adjusted such that the clearance between it and wear plate I5 will be small at the lowest temperature at which the unit is intended to operate 35 F. for example. Sufiicient clearance between the lower side of impeller I4 and plate I6 is provided such that no rubbing will occur upon expansion of shaft 4 when the highest temperature under which the unit is expected to operate is reached, 100 F. for example. These adjustments with respect to shaft 4 account for a temperature range between 35 F. and 100 F. in which the pump assembly is assumed to be operating for purposes of illustration. A particular advantage arises when the pumping assembly is not operating and the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere drops very low, F. for example, and no paper stock or other material which would be frozen at that temperature is present in tank I. Such a temperature drop would cause shaft 4 to contract such that impeller I4 would bear upwardly against wear plate I5. The possibility of overstressing component parts of the assembly by such contraction of shaft 4 is avoided, however, in that the pump 2 will merely be lifted off of submerged surface 22 thereby further compressing springs 36 instead of overstressing pipes 24.

Another feature of the invention pertains to removing pump 2 from tank I at times for purposes of inspection and repair and subsequently returning it to the tank. To accomplish such removal coupling 26 is disengaged so as to disconnect motor shaft 21 from shaft 4, conduit 34 is disconnected from its source of supply (not shown), and the nuts are removed from anchor bolts 1 such that support assembly upon which motor 3 is mounted can be removed. Without further disconnection of parts the rest of the assembly which includes pump 2, shaft 4 and compression pipes 24 can be withdrawn from tank I as a unit with a crane or the like; for convenience this part of the assembly will hereinafter be referred to as the pumping unit.

When returning the pumping unit to tank I it is essential that it be returned to its original setting so that it will be aligned with the shaft driving means which has a fixed position with respect to the tank. Accordingly, there is provided vertical guide means herein characterized by one or more guide rods 42 which are anchored at the bottom of tank I in spaced relation to the position the pumping unit is intended to occupy. Guide rod engaging mean-s, herein characterized by lateral extensions of plates 2|, 25 and 33 having respectively holes 43, 44 and 45 in vertical alignment for slidable engagement with guide rods 42, are provided such that the pumping unit can be returned to its original setting in tank I after removal therefrom. Another function of guide rod 42 is to prevent the entire pumping unit from rotating with impeller I4.

A particular advantage of the above described arrangement is that the pumping unit may be removed from and returned to tank I without necessitating emptying material therefrom. Such advantage is apparent in the situation where failure of some part of the pumping unit would make it inoperative and thus incapable of emptying the tank before it is pulled out for repairs. Similar is the situation where another temporary storage place for the material would not be immediately available.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiment of the invention provides a new and improved pumping apparatus, and accordingly accomplishes the objects of the invention. On the other hand, it will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiment of the invention may be variously changed and modifield, or features thereof, singly or collectively, embodied in other combinations that are illustrated, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and accordingly, the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and the invention is not limited thereto.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A rotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom, comprising, a stationary member adapted to be secured to an upper portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adapted for positioning on a submerged surface of said tank, means for resiliently connecting said pump casing to said stationary member including rigid compression members operably attached to and extending vertically from said casing and resilient means operatively disposed in relation with said stationary member .and said compression members for allowing relative movement therebetween.

2. A rotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom, comprising, a stationary member adapted to be secured to an upper portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adapted for positioning on a submerged surface of said tank, means for connecting said pump casing to said stationary member including rigid compression members operably attached to and extending vertically from said casing and resilient means operatively disposed between said compression member and said stationary member for allowing relative movement therebetween.

3. A rotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom, comprising, a stationary member adapted to be secured to an upper portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adaptedfor positioning on a submerged surface portion of said tank, rigid compression members attached to and extending vertically from said casing, and spring means operatively disposed in relation with said stationary member and said compression members for allowing relative movement therebetween and for holding said casing in a gownward position against said submerged surace.

4. Arotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom, comprising, a stationary member adapted to be secured to an upper .portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adapted for positioning on a submerged surface of said tank, an impeller rotatable in said casing, driving means for driving said impeller, an impeller shaft driven by said driving means, the lower end of said shaft being connected in driving relation with said impeller, rigid compression mem- :bers attached to and extending vertically from said casing, .and spring means disposed respectively between said compression members and said stationary member for allowing relative movement therebetween.

5. A rotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom, comprising, a stationary member adapted to be secured to an upper portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adapted for positioning on a submerged surface of said tank, an impeller rotatable in said casing, driving means mounted on said stationary member, an impeller shaft driven by said driving means, the lower end of said shaft being connected in driving relation with said impeller, rigid com pression members attached to and extending vertically from said casing, and spring means disposed between said compression members and said stationary member for allowing relative movement therebetween.

6. A rotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom, comprising, a stationary member adapted to be secured to an upper portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adapted for positioning on a submerged surface of said tank, an impeller rotatable in said casing, driving means mounted on said stationary member, an impeller shaft depending from and driven by said driving means, the lower end of said shaft being connected in driving relation with said impeller, means for resiliently connecting said pump casing to said stationary member including rigid compression members operably attached to and extending vertically from said casing, resilient means disposed between said compression members and said stationary member for allowing relative movement therebetween such that upon contraction of said shaft due to a substantially low temperature condition said impeller will contact said casing causing it to be lifted from said submerged surface so as to further compress said resilient means.

7. A rotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom, comprising, a stationary member adapted to be secured to an upper portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adapted for positioning on a submerged surface of said tank, an impeller rotatable in said casing, driving means for driving said impeller, an impeller shaft driven by said driving means, the lower end of said shaft being connected in driving relation with said impeller, means for resiliently connecting said pump casing to said stationary member including rigid compression members operably attached to and extending vertically from said casing and spring means disposed respectively between said compression members and said stationary member for allowing relative movement therebetween, and bearing means for said shaft supported by at least one of said compression members.

8. A rotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom comprising, a support member detachably secured to an upper portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adapted for positioning on a submerged surface portion of said tank, vertically extending guide means secured relative to said submerged surface portion for positioning and preventing other than axial movement of said casing, compression members attached to and extending vertically from said casing, spring means disposed between said compression members and said support member for allowing relative movement therebetween and for holding said casing against said submerged surface portion, said pump and said compression members being adapted as a unit to be lowered into and lifted out of said tank, and means associated with said unit for cooperation with said guide means in guiding said pump assembly into and out of engagement with said submerged surface portion.

9. A rotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom, comprising, a stationary member secured to an upper portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adapted for positioning on a submerged surface portion of said tank, an impeller rotatably disposed in said casing, compression members attached to and extending vertically from said casing, spring means operatively disposed between said compression member and said stationary member for allowing relative movement therebetween, and easing positioning means secured relative to said submerged surface portion and in engagement with said casing so as to prevent other than axial movement thereof.

10. A rotary pump assembly of the type adapted to operate in a tank containing material to be pumped therefrom, comprising, a stationary member detachably secured to an upper portion of said tank, a pump having a casing adapt ed for positioning on a submerged surface portion of said tank, compression members attached to and extending vertically from said casing, guide means secured relative to said submerged surface portion and extending vertically, said pump and said compression members being adapted as a unit to be lowered into and lifted out of said tank, and means associated with said unit for slidable engagement with said guide means when said unit is so lowered and so lifted.

FRANK R. FORREST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,470,081 Huntting Oct. 9, 1923 1,891,201 Hoff Dec. 13, 1932 2,181,973 Jasberg Dec. 5, 1939 2,491,751 McGee Dec. 20, 1949 

